KINGDOM OF ROMANIA (1881-1947)
REIGN OF CAROL I (PRINCE OF ROMANIA 1866-1881; KING OF ROMANIA 1881-1914) - HOUSE OF HOHENZOLLERN-SIGMARINGEN
STRUCK IN HONOR OF THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REIGN OF CAROL I
GOLD FIFTY LEI CERTIFIED BY NGC MINT STATE 62
OBV: UNIFORMED PORTRAIT BUST OF CAROL I "HEAVY BEARD" LEFT; DATES RIGHT; ROMANIAN LEGEND "CAROL I REGE AL RAMANIEI (CHARLES I, KING OF ROMANIA)".
REV: CLOAKED EQUESTRIAN PORTRAIT OF CAROL I RIGHT; DENOMINATION LOWER RIGHT; ROMANIAN LEGEND "CAROL I DOMNUL RAMANIEI (CHARLES I, LORD OF ROMANIA)".
KM # 39
CAROL I (1839-1914) WAS REIGNING PRINCE OF ROMANIA AFTER THE PALACE MILITARY COUP OF 1866 FORCED THE ABDICATION OF PRINCE ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA (1820-1873).
THE ROMANIAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE AGAINST TURKISH DOMINANCE OCCURRED AS PART OF THE 1877-1878 RUSSO-TURKISH WAR, AND PRINCE CAROL PERSONALLY COMMANDED THE ROMANIAN UNITS IN THE WAR AND TOOK CHARGE OF THE RUSSO-ROMANIAN FORCES DURING THE SEIGE OF PLEVNA.
AFTER THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE CAPITULATED AT THE WAR'S END, THE TREATY OF BERLIN GRANTED ROMANIA INDEPENDENCE IN 1878. IN 1881, CAROL I WAS PROCLAIMED KING.
ALTHOUGH HE NEVER FORGOT HIS GERMAN ROOTS, HE WAS CONSCIENTIOUS AND DEVOTED TO HIS KINGDOM AND ITS PEOPLE. HE RULED FOR 48 YEARS, AS PRINCE AND THEN KING, AND GUIDED ROMANIA INTO INDEPENDENCE AND STABILITY, WHILE CEASELESSLY INCREASING THE PRESTIGE OF HIS ADOPTED NATION.
CONTAINS 16.13 GRAMS OF .900 FINE GOLD (.46667 OZ AGW)
35 MM IN DIAMETER
ONLY 28,000 MINTED!
BUCHAREST MINT
